Women’s Sleep Habits Linked to Mood

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Women’s Sleep Habits Linked to Mood

Sleep Deprivation Affects Family Well-Being

When mom doesn’t get enough sleep, the whole family suffers. In women, there’s a definite connection between sleep and mood. Worry, stress and anxiety can interfere with sleep, and sleep problems can increase depression and anxiety symptoms.

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According to a 2007 National Sleep Foundation study on women’s sleep habits, the relationship between sleep and mood is bi-directional. More than half of the women surveyed in the NSF poll said they had felt unhappy, sad or depressed in the past month, and one-third (36%) had felt hopeless about the future. Most reported problems sleeping, and 40% had been diagnosed with a sleep disorder.

Women's Sleep Patterns Across Life

Biology affects a woman’s sleep habits. The NSF study analyzed sleep patterns at each stage of a woman’s life:

Menstruation
Menstruating women slept longest, averaging 7 hours, 32 minutes of shut-eye; however, 67% reported insomnia several nights a week. One-third experienced sleep problems during their cycle.
Pregnancy
Women got more sleep during pregnancy than at any other time — approximately 8 hours, 14 minutes per night — although 84% complained of insomnia several nights a week and 30% said they never got a good night’s sleep.
Post Partum
Women slept least — an average 7 hours, 46 minutes — after childbirth. Nearly half (47%) reported never getting a good night’s sleep, and 84% experienced chronic insomnia, 90% related to child care. Two in every 10 women experienced post partum blues or depression.
Perimenopausal
During menopausal transition, women got the least amount of sleep (7 hours, 12 minutes). More than half (59%) reported insomnia a few nights each week; and 43% experienced a sleep disorder, hot flashes or night sweats that interfered with sleep.
Postmenopausal
Postmenopausal women slept an average 7 hours, 19 minutes but had the highest incidence of sleep disorders (50%) and insomnia (61%). Forty-one percent used a sleep aid several nights a week.

Because of the link between sleep and mood, psychiatric treatment that addresses both issues through cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy can be most effective. A board-certified psychiatrist like Dr. Tracey Marks with considerable experience treating sleep disorders can help you find workable and lasting solutions to sleep better and enjoy life more.